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Female fans normally know more facts about what’s going on than men do anyway. I’d say they’re a more intelligent fan on top of that. They normally know more about what we’ve done than we know about what we’ve done. --- Tony Stewart

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There are female fans who take apart engines and will take you apart if you have a problem with that; who are drawn to the danger and mystery of the sport; who watch races on TV to witness pure passion and unscripted emotion; who love the camaraderie of these family-friendly festivals; who feel the nervous anxiety of the lip-biting wives atop the pit boxes. --- Andrew Giangola “The Weekend Starts on Wednesday”

Yeah, I’m exaggerating. So what? This weekend kicks
off the Chase, which has a brand spankin’ new format. I’m thrilled to see how
it turns out and how it affects the racing. Things are bound to evolve even
during the first race.

NASCAR won’t get off easy; I have questions
involving Richmond, the Chase, and champions in this week’s column. I’m serving
it up with a fresh side of sass as well. Enjoy.

Do
the races at Richmond have bigger implications? OK,
aside from The Catch Fence Man, both races at Richmond International Raceway
SUCKED. That’s the cold, hard truth. I wasn’t expecting it to be the full-blown
circus it was last season, but SOME action would’ve been nice. There’s
something we can learn from this: Goodyear needs a better tire. If the tires
actually had a fall-off quality, then someone could’ve rivaled Brad Keselowski
and Kyle Busch. I was unaware I was watching the REGULAR SEASON FINALE. C’mon,
Richmond. Pack a punch next time.

What
should we expect during the Chase? First, I fully expect
NO Richmond-esque lulls in excitement (sorry, I’m still bitter). The Chase is
in a new playoff version, and we anxiously wait to observe how this actually
works. Everything is going to be different; the motto has gone from “risk it
for the biscuit” to “protect ALL the biscuits.” Conserving your strength and
preserving your ranking is the game plan. Let’s all hope some excitement comes
from it.

Who’s
D.O.A in the first round? After the first four races, four
people will be cut from running for the championship. It’s like a twisted
version of "America’s Next Top Model." After much thought, I’ve decided the first
bunch to be cut will include Aric Almirola, AJ Allmendinger, Greg Biffle and
Ryan Newman. The last two got in on points, and I highly doubt they can knock
out victories in the finals. As much as I love underdogs, Almirola and
Allmendinger’s respective teams aren’t up to par with the Hendricks and the
Penskes. If this were ANTM, though, Allmendinger’s hair would make it to the
final four, and we all know who would win the grand prize (I’m looking at you,
Kasey Kahne).

And
our three champions are …? It’s difficult to predict
everything that’s going to happen, so I’m just hitting the big point: who’ll be
eliminated first, and who will be crowned champions. Sounds easy enough, right?
Eh. Let’s start with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Matt Crafton is
currently at the top, and he will stay there. Since the Trucks have fewer races,
not much is going to change. Crafton’s been consistent all year. For that, he
will be rewarded. The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a bit trickier, with both
Regan Smith and Chase Elliott both putting up strong performances throughout
the season. Does experience beat out fresh talent? Or vice versa? I’m sorry,
Smith, but Elliott’s just too strong. He hasn’t had the miscues the No. 7 team
has suffered. It may be a stretch, but that’s one I’m willing to take. Now, for
the grand finale, I’m going to select a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. Drum roll … OK, no drum roll, whatever. This is a difficult decision to make
because two drivers stand out in my mind. No, three. No, two. The talent is
just too good. If my life depended on a correct guess, then my life is in Brad
Keselowski’s hands. There’s something about his attitude and mindset that
sticks out to me. Penske power has been the prince to Hendrick’s king-like
rule, but it will overthrow them in the end.

A
TRIPLE-HEADER WEEKEND?! Can’t you tell that I’m excited?!
Many people know my displeasure with the number of races the Trucks put on. Not
only are they racing, but IT’S A NIGHT RACE TONIGHT!! I do have some
reservations about this deal, though. The events this weekend are at
Chicagoland Speedway, which isn’t the most exciting place. However, I’m
choosing to remain positive. It’s the beginning of the Chase, the trucks are under
the lights … this weekend won’t be anything like Richmond (thank goodness).